Smith succeeds the Rev. Ed Privette, who resigned after a civil jury
ordered him to pay $420,000 in wages, medical bills and punitive damages
to two female church employees who testified to Privette's hugging,
kissing and touching them.

Privette has told church members he intends to start a new ministry.
It is not known if the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist
Church offered Privette another post.

Smith has previously been pastor of congregations in Fuquay-Varina and
Clayton.

He will be joined by associate pastor Thomas Hollis of Plank Chapel
United Methodist Church in Henderson.

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